Ditka surprised to read that he’ll be at GOP convention with Trump

chicagotribune.com – A report late Tuesday that Donald Trump is lining up Mike Ditka to make a star appearance at the Republican National Convention came as no surprise to anybody — except Da Coach himself.

While Ditka, 76, has made no secret of his support for presumptive GOP presidential nominee, and Trump has in the past publicly returned the love, the Chicago Bears legend told the Tribune on Wednesday morning, “No one’s ever talked to me about it. I have no idea where it’s coming from.”

Ditka said he first learned of the suggestion that he might appear at the July 18-21 convention in Cleveland in text messages from pals who’d read the Bloomberg story, which cited sources familiar with the Trump campaign’s plans. The story said other retired athletes, including boxer Mike Tyson, would also appear alongside Trump.